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Page 100
Chapter Five
Salisbury's letter was not really so difficult once one settled to it and gave close attention, but Alinor's eyes darkened with worry as she rewrote the message. Guilt plucked at her also. Ian had said he would marry her, will she nill she, and he knew about the king's ill will. She had hoped, however, that they would be married before King John remembered his spite and therefore that the spite would not flow over onto Ian. It was too late for that now. Had she really resisted enough? Had she advanced the right arguments to deter him? Truly, her lust for Ian had so beclouded her mind that there was neither conviction nor honesty in her resistance. I could offer to release him, she thought. Immediately she hissed impatiently at her own dishonesty. That would merely insult Ian in order to give a sop to her conscience.
There was a great deal to discuss and little time. Alinor remembered that Ian had said he must ride out again. That meant that he probably would be out all night and they would not have time to talk after the children were abed. She thought a moment, then called to a passing maidservant and bid her set places for Ian's squires and Adam and Joanna at Beorn's table. Lessons in courtesy were all very well, but not when they interfered with more serious matters. When all was ready, and her children had been ordered in a tone with which they did not argue to sit where they were told, Alinor sent a manservant to fetch Ian. He came from his chamber looking tousled and sleepy and so very young and beautiful that Alinor's breath caught.

 
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